Road Surface Matting

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to road surface matting. It is known to overlay the ground with mats to make a better surface for vehicles to drive on. Known road matting includes beams arranged in parallel, each within its own pocket in a fabric mat. However, inordinate reliance on fabric makes matting vulnerable to wear and tear. The invention aims to go at least some way toward addressing this problem by providing matting having a first mat, a second mat, and a means for pivoting comprising at least two ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint. Each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another, and the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to matting for use in providing a road surface.

BACKGROUND

It is known to overlay the ground with mats to make a better surface for vehicles to drive on, for example in unpaved areas where vehicles would otherwise have to travel over an inadequate ground surface. US patent specification No. 2006/0222804 by Banting discloses a road matting where, among other things, a series of beams are arranged in parallel, each within its own pocket in a fabric mat. The manner in which the Banting mat is constructed places inordinate reliance on the fabric, which makes it vulnerable to wear and tear. It is an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards providing a useful alternative.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “comprising” or “having”, if and when used in relation to one or more features, in each case indicates minimum features present but does not rule out the option of there being further features that are not mentioned. The same applies to derivative words, for example “comprises”, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided road surface matting, comprising:

-   -   a first mat;     -   a second mat; and     -   pivoting means comprising at least two ball joints, each joint         comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the         joint;

each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another; and

the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

Preferably the pivoting means comprises four ball joints.

Preferably there is a third and a fourth mat associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second mats.

Preferably each mat is connected to the respective ball by a bolt which is in threaded engagement with the ball.

Preferably the pivoting means comprises a plate with alignment ribs, and a corner of each mat sits at or above the plate against a respective one of the ribs.

Preferably the beams of each mat are held together by a frame.

Preferably reinforcing bars run parallel with the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention there is provided road surface matting, comprising:

-   -   a first mat;     -   a second mat;     -   a third mat;     -   a fourth mat; and     -   pivoting means comprising four ball joints, each joint         comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the         joint;

each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another wherein the beams comprise bamboo; and the mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

According to a further alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a ground surface overlaid with matting, described above, to provide a road for vehicles.

According to another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a mat for road surface matting, the mat having:

-   -   a series of substantially parallel beams;     -   a frame holding together the beams, the frame comprising a first         pair of U-channels and a second pair of U-channels;     -   a pair of reinforcing bars to provide rigidity to the frame; and     -   corner gusset brackets arranged at each of the four corners of         the mat to provide rigidity to the frame;

wherein the mat is such that it is able to be connected to pivoting means comprising a ball joint, which is connected to another mat the same, to form road surface matting.

DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mat used as a road overlay with a connector plate;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mat and two plates;

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of an end beam and a filler beam;

FIG. 4 is an end view and a side view of a first U-channel and an end view and a side view of a second U-channel;

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of a gusset bracket;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the plate;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of three mats joined to the plate;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of two mats joined to the plate;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a bolt and a ball joint comprising a pivot ball; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the manner in which the mats dissipate load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , road surface matting comprises a mat la having a pair of end beams 2 a and a series of filler beams 2 b arranged in parallel. The beams 2 a, 2 b are connected to one another by a frame 3 comprising a first pair of U-channels 3 a that span the width of the mat la and a second pair of U-channels 3 b that span the length of the mat 1 a. The beams 2 a, 2 b are held in a snug fit within the U-channels 3 a, 3 b respectively.

A pair of reinforcing bars 4 run parallel with and between some of the filler beams 2 b and connect to the U-channels 3 b to provide rigidity to the mat 1 a. Alternatively, there may be more than two bars 4. One of the gusset brackets 5 is fixed in each corner of the mat la respectively to provide additional rigidity. Each corner of the mat 1 a is adapted to be joined to pivoting means 6, comprising for example a respective connector plate 6 a, to which other mats are joined to form road surface matting, as will be explained below.

To illustrate further detail of parts of the mat 1 a, FIG. 3 shows plan and side views of the beams 2 a, 2 b. FIG. 4 shows end and side views of the U-channels 3 a, 3 b. FIG. 5 shows plan and side views of the bracket 5.

FIG. 6 shows the pivoting means 6 comprising the connector plate 6 a to which mats are connected. FIG. 7 illustrates how three of the mats la-c are joined together by way of the pivoting means 6 to form road surface matting.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the pivoting means 6 comprises the plate 6 a, alignment ribs 7, four ball joints 9, and a shouldered washer 10.

The alignment ribs 7 are raised with respect to the plate 6 a. The four ball joints 9 are connected (eg welded) to and extend below the plate 6 a. Alternatively, the ball joints 9 may be integrally formed with the plate 6 a. Each ball joint 9 comprises a pivot ball 9 a within its housing.

To join the mats 1 la-c to the pivoting means 6, one corner of each mat is positioned over one corner of the plate 6 a so that the mat corner is flush against two of the ribs 7. The shouldered washer 10 is placed between the mat la and the plate 6 a. Each pivot ball 9 a has a threaded female opening adapted to receive the thread of a male bolt 11.

In each case the bolt 11 is passed through an aperture 12, through a respective bracket 5, through a corresponding aperture 13 in the end beam 2 a, and through the washer 10. Each bolt 11 is then countersunk into the end beam 2 a, and threaded into and connected to the pivot ball 9 a.

The mats 1 a-c, by means of the bolts 11 attached to the pivot balls 9 a, are able to move with respect to the plate 6 a. Such movement is enabled by pivoting (eg rotating or swivelling) of the pivot balls 9 a within the associated ball joint housings and is limited to some extent by each washer 10. This means there is a degree of ‘give’ between the mats 1 a-c, each with respect to the plate 6 a.

FIG. 9 shows the ball joint 9, comprising the pivot ball 9 a, separately to the bolt 11 before the bolt is passed through the end beam 2 a.

When in use the mats 1 a-c are joined to one another as above, along with an additional mat 1 d (not shown) on a fourth quarter of the plate 6 a plus additional sets of mats as required, for example so that together they extend from one side of a dirt road to the other. Additional such mats are added in front of, and also behind, the set of mats 1 a-d in the same way to extend, in repeating fashion, over and along unpaved or otherwise inadequate ground to provide a surface for vehicles to drive on.

The matting spreads or dissipates heavy loads across one or more of the beams 2 a, 2 b. This protects the underlying ground against point loading that would otherwise cause rutting or other damage to the ground. FIG. 10 illustrates the force distribution of weight from a vehicle wheel with (A) and then without (B) the matting. The downward force is significantly more spread at the ground surface at A than it is at B.

Further, when the underlying surface is boggy, the matting provides vehicles with improved wheel grip.

The matting can be particularly useful for providing temporary road or other surfaces, but can also be used for permanent surfaces. It may be used to provide enhanced access to vehicles in the context of construction or civil works in remote or hard to access areas generally, for example at mining sites or where electrical power lines are being installed. The matting can also be used to provide walking surfaces to prevent work areas attended by people on foot from becoming boggy. By adding mats as desired, sideways and longways, one can make a road or other surface as long or wide as need be. Damaged or worn sections can be easily repaired, for example by replacing the frame 3, beams 2 a, 2 b or other components as need be.

Preferably the beams 2 a, 2 b are in each case strand woven hot pressed bamboo, for example Mao bamboo, but the beams may comprise other kinds of bamboo. The washer 10 is made from Teflon™. The other parts of the mat 1 a are preferably made from galvanised carbon steel.

Each mat la is preferably about 1,900 mm wide, 3,000 mm long and 50 mm thick, 50 mm being the approximate thickness of the U-channels 3 a, 3 b. In the preferred embodiment of the mat 1 a each beam 2 a, 2 b is about 140 mm wide, 1,900 mm long and 30 mm thick. Each mat la has a compression density of about 1,050-1,200 kg/m³. However other dimensions and compression densities can be used depending on the target end use.

Preferably each mat 1 a has two of the reinforcing bars 4, but the number used may depend on the overall dimensions of the mat 1 a.

The bracket 5 is preferably 6 mm thick. The connector plate 6 a is preferably 265 mm ×265 mm and 10 mm thick. The bracket apertures 12 and the end beam apertures 13 are each preferably 12 mm in diameter to accommodate the bolt shaft being 10 mm in diameter.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

In terms of disclosure, this document hereby discloses each item, feature or step mentioned herein in combination with one or more of any of the other item, feature or step disclosed herein, in each case regardless of whether such combination is claimed. 

1. A road surface matting, comprising: a first mat; a second mat; and pivoting means comprising at least two ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint; each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another; and the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.
 2. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means comprises four bail joints.
 3. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein there is a third and a fourth mat associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second mats.
 4. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein each mat is connected to the respective ball by a bolt which is in threaded engagement with the ball.
 5. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means comprises a plate with alignment ribs, and a corner of each mat sits at or above the plate against a respective one of the ribs.
 6. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein the beams of each mat are held together by a frame.
 7. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein reinforcing bars run parallel with the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat.
 8. The road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein: a) there is at least a third and a fourth mat; b) the pivoting means has four ball joints, each joint comprising a respective ball adapted to pivot within a respective housing; c) each mat being connected to the respective ball and able to pivot with the ball; and d) the beams comprise bamboo.
 9. A ground surface overlaid with the road surface matting according to claim 1 to provide a road for vehicles.
 10. A mat for road surface matting, the mat having: a series of substantially parallel beams; a frame holding together the beams, the frame comprising a first pair of □-channels and a second pair of U-channels; a pair of reinforcing bars to provide rigidity to the frame; and corner gusset brackets arranged at each of the four corners of the mat to provide rigidity to the frame; wherein the mat is such that itis able to be connected to pivoting means comprising a ball joint, which is connected to another mat the same ; to form road surface matting. 